As summer starts to bid us farewell, signs of fall are all around. Peak autumn doesn’t last long – there’s little time for indecisiveness this season. To maximize the few weeks when the weather is between hot and cold, take time to reflect and invest in what you want to see bloom after the approaching colder months. Having a relaxing fall day to yourself could be helpful, so here is our ideal fall day to provide some inspiration.
First go on a walk and soak in the rays!
beautiful foliage from Cornell University campus in Ithaca.
After a day outside in the brisk fall air, whether it’s visiting a local farm, cafe hopping to try seasonal drinks, or going on a hike (use a foliage map to track when your area will reach peak colors), cozy up with a book by a window in your most comfortable sweater and fluffiest blanket.
Then pick up a fall-coded read..
You may consider reaching for a Halloween classic, like The Haunting of Hill House, a classic horror novel, or connecting with the misunderstood Frankenstein. My personal childhood favorite, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, is full of short yet spooky stories perfect to ring in the Halloween season. If you’re feeling something more mellow, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a cozy story that features some supernatural elements in an easily digestible way.
By this time, it’ll be time to enjoy a meal. The weather getting colder means more opportunities to eat soup, stews, and seasonal treats. Autumn is also a great time to explore local farmers markets and enjoy seasonal produce like apples, sweet potatoes, squash, and pears. Especially during the fall harvest season, eating local and seasonal produce is not only more sustainable but also nourishing for both the body and mind.
Don't forget about sweet treats during fall-- this is where apple flavored desserts thrive
Now for something to eat
Delicious Chili Recipe
Chili is the optimal fall food and can last you several meals once frozen. For a simpler recipe, swap traditional chili seasonings for a packet of taco or chili seasoning mix.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno, diced (optional)
- 1 pack Trader Joe’s soy chorizo
- 1 lb. ground beef / turkey (can skip or sub sweet potato for vegetarian version)
- 2 cans of beans, drained (I use black and kidney)
- 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 14 oz. can diced or crushed tomatoes
- 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 cups preferred stock or water
- 1 packet taco or chili seasoning
Saute diced garlic, onion, and jalapeno in a large pot. Add meat and tomato paste. Saute meat with tomato paste until color deepens. Add seasonings and stock, then add the rest of the canned goods. Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer for ~30 minutes until preferred thickness, adding water or stock as needed. Serve with sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chips!
Soup Tips
Though we feel like winter is where soup really shines, soup during the fall is extremely underrated. If you aren’t able to devote hours to simmering a perfect bowl, here are a few tips so you can throw together a quick meal.
- Add frozen dumplings and any vegetables to your preferred broth for a quick meal
- Freeze veggie scraps to make vegetable stock
- Add spinach, carrots, or any produce on hand that’s on its way out to zhuzh up canned soup
Finish off with a movie
a still from Scream (it's a Halloween must-watch!)
After enjoying a nourishing meal, it’s finally time to snuggle up to a movie. What’s more of the season than Twilight or Little Women? There are several Halloween classics, like Hocus Pocus, Scream, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Our other fall-related favorites include Bottoms, a satirical and hilariously written comedy, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a “horror” film in its own right due to how emotionally shattering it is.
Regardless of what your ideal fall day is, autumn is the perfect time to embrace personal growth and to reflect. Just like how it takes a while in the winter for the trees to bloom in the spring, instant gratification may not be present this season. However, investing in your mind, body, and spirit will pay off eventually even if it takes a while to see it!
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written by Eirian Huang
